The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-06
ASKING AID FOB IRELAND
4 large Audience Greet Hon. Arthur
eC0nner and Sir 7. G. Esm0nde,
lndiisten with Sympathy TO Their Pleas for
Ylsir Struggling Country-Speeches by
= Gov. Porter and Gen. Harrison.


Ing receive the distinguished home-rule advo-
eats, Hon. Arthur OConnor and Sir Thomas
Hery Grattan Esmonde. On either side of the
bal were banners bearing the names of the
EQUITIES of Ireland. The decoration of the
ssse was quite elaborate. On one side was
iare streamer bearing the name, ''Henry
Grttan," on the opposite side another with the
nale, s'Chas. Stewart ParnelL" Over the
frot streamer bore the words, "Welcome-
W,come.n At the back of the stage was
lare portrait of Thos A. Hendricks, fanked on
eiter side by goddess of liberty. Above them
VS. the inscription, 1.-THE immortal Hendricks,
my his memory live and grow in the hearts OF
mn till there's not tyrant left on the face
othe earth"
At Sis o'clock the visitors arrived, preceded
y the Emmet Guards band, playing THE
Fearing of the Green" and escorted by squad
fEmmet Guards. Sir Thomas is young and
lelicate looking man, with a keen, intelligent
lace Mr. OConnor is older ana more comfort
able in appearance. Travel evidently does not
disagree with him. They took the stage accom-
panied by General Harrison, Governor Gray
Ex-Governor Porter, Judges Mitchell and Zol-
lars, Hon. S. P. Sheerin and other gentlemen.
Governor Gray presided and welcomed the Wis
itine gentlemen in brief address, in which he
in her present struggle, and closed by intro
ducing Mr.. O'Connor, who was received with en-
thusiastic applause.
Mr.. OConnor said that from Boston to San
Francisco the American people had shown to
him and his companion the greatest sympathy
in their mission, aud it was not to be expected
that Indiana, which had produced so true a
friend to Ireland Thomas A. Hen
bricks, should show less sympathy than other
States. The struggle Of Ir Gland is not
It is struggle of seven hundred years.
The modes different-the struggle is the
same. We are endeavoring to repeal the
quest By cruelty, peridy and treachery Eng
and sought first to exterminate and then to
subdue the Irish people. No outrage perpe-
criminal in an Enelishman If he could show that
the injured person Irish and Catholic.
''They have" the speaker said, "taken
country and our mother tongue. They sought
to take our ancient faith but in that they failed
The people to whom they parceled out the land
we're allowed to exact two-thirds of the product
of their tenants for By oppressive laws
and oppressive masters Ireland has been bled to
death. When many of you present were born
Ireland had eight million Inhabitants England
fourteen. Now England has twenty seven
million; Ireland, by misrule and oppression, has
dwindled to less than five million. Our strug-
gle is not like Americas was. II we had the
be independent, for England would
not take the trouble to make US
person ireland
arms without permission. A constabuiary 49,
900 strong watches the people day and night.
An army larger than your national army stands
ready to back them. Ireland is governed by
boards com posed exclusively of the appontees
of the English government We ask for Ire
land only that she NAV control her domes-
tic affairs she chooses England has tried to
rule us for eiehtyseven years. Eiehty-seven
years ago the Irish Parlia ment was destroyed,
and since then eighty seven coercion acts have
been passed. the worst in this year-tha
jubilee year of her Majesty Distin gushed
Irishmen are now in prison for violation OF this
law which is designed to strike down the liberty
of the press. the liberty OF free speech, the lib
erry of free assembly. In six years n
strong party which denounced us es traitors
has been broken. deprived of power, and
now Is supporting Us. Scotland and Wales are
now with US. constantly growing number of
Enelshmen are with US. This has been pro-
duced by the steady persistent fight OF the
Land League. The Tory party is now making
its last attempt at coercion. The Irish people
are Roaded almost to desperation, but they will
not overstep the bounds of lawful resistance,
and they will in the end succeed We need
money. America has given the aid that has
kept MS up thus far. We expect her to do as
much now. Every indication is that the strug-
gle is nearly over. The landlords or the
tenants must go, and it won't be the tenants
The present governments of England must dis
rupt soon il political indications be trusted.
Our only anxiety is that we may not be able
fully to protect the evieted tenants and
victed patriots until the battle is won. We trust
TO you to aid US, and say to you that the
rainbow Of hope is in the sky"
Captain Kellehec then introduced and
made earnest. eloquent appeal for funds,
after which the band played Rory O'Mooren
and the collectors passed through the audience.
Mr. Esmonde was then introduced and
ceived with three cheers He returned thanks
for the welcome given, and said that it might
have been expected here. because Indianapolis
had been heard from before in support of the
national cause. 1--WE are convinced" he said
'that there is no country where our cause would
be heard as in America, and we here to
plead that cause before the bar OF public
ment-not even that of the Czar-that
is so despotic as the government over Ire
land. We have heard of the English con-
stitution-we have read of it-but we have never
experienced it. Our liberties always, and our
lives generally, the disposition of our
rulers. If this meeting were held in Ireland
government note-takers would be the stage,
and government constabulary would line the
walls An Irishman is liable to be arrested, at
any time. for doing what be has perfect right to
do, if it happens TO displease the resident mag
istrates. | A laugh. My friend seems to know
something of the resident magistrates. A man
called the Kerry knight applied to have
his brother made resident magistrate a few
weeks ago the ground that be had been
crossed in love. aud would take to drink if he
did not get Office. That is a sample of the
credentials and Endorsements required 1t is
just WELL perhaps, that the English never did
treat Us decently They have never been able
to kill spirit of nationality, and we have
reached point when think we have a
certain hope of success We have q position in
the English Parliament that gives almost
Until the Irish question is satisfac-
torily out of the way English legislation may
wait The aim of the Tory government at this
time is to exasperate the Irish people to despera-
tion. They would give anything to bring
rebellion in Ireland, but they cannot do it.
There was never a time when the people of Ire
land united and disciplined as now.
We have a system by which every who is
svcted is Housed and supported until his land
lord comes to reason. We are certain of eighty
six of the enc hundred and three Irish repre-
sentatives. Our only need IS to hold what we
have gained and we know that indianapolis
will do her part, for she has always been among
the foremost of the cities in aiding our cause
Our cause has received a great impetus from
the accession of Mr.. Gladstone. We have be-
come fashionable now. A few years ago it was
dangerous for Irishman to appear on an
English platform. Now they always have Irish
members of Parliament at Liberal meetings,
and we have shown them that they need u.s.